Nigerian businessman and social media commentator, Uche Rochas, has claimed that the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, will not be on the ballot in 2027.

He was reacting to the controversy surrounding the recent court ruling on NDC registration.

Recall that a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on Friday set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to register NDC as a political party.

‎Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the controversial ruling, held that the court’s earlier judgment adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, PMP, which was not joined as a party in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo being used by NDC.

The decision of the court is currently generating backlash with opposition parties accusing President Bola Tinubu-led administration of plotting to contest the 2027 election unopposed.

Obi’s supporters have also been worried over the alleged plot to de-register the NDC, the party fielding him.

In a post on his X handle on Saturday, Rochas claimed that Obi will be missed in the election, insinuating that the NDC will not participate in the election.

He wrote, “Peter Obi will not be on any ballot in the 2027 general election. We will certainly miss him, and the noise.

“I also feel sorry for those he deceived into spending their time and money on the NDC. Now, there will be no refunds.”

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has declared that the state is fully committed to ensuring the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

The governor made the declaration during an interactive meeting with elected and appointed government officials at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Yusuf said Kano would play a leading role in delivering massive votes for President Tinubu in the next presidential election.

He said the APC-led administration in the state had no regrets about supporting the President.

“We have no apology for supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His re-election is a collective responsibility of every party member and government official,” the governor said.

Yusuf also directed all political appointees serving in his administration who are yet to register with the APC to do so without delay.

He stressed that every elected and appointed official must identify with the party and actively contribute to strengthening its structures ahead of the 2027 elections.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to securing victory for the APC in the presidential, governorship, National Assembly, State Assembly and local government elections.

As part of efforts to appreciate political office holders, Yusuf approved the allocation of plots of land to more than 300 political aides, including senior special assistants, special assistants, senior special reporters, special reporters and personal assistants.

He also approved the payment of N100,000 to each of the beneficiaries.

Speaking at the meeting, Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Ismail Falgore, said, “The APC owes no apology for marketing the achievements of President Tinubu in Kano.”

He added that constituency projects carried out by members of the State Assembly, with the support of Governor Yusuf, had strengthened the party’s popularity and positioned it for victory in 2027.

Also speaking, the Kano APC Chairman, Umar Haruna Doguwa, declared that the party was ready for the political contest ahead.

“The battle line has been drawn with the Kwankwasiyya movement,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious in the 2027 elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it is yet to receive the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the Federal High Court judgment that set aside an earlier order directing it to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.

INEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola.

According to the commission, although it is aware of media reports on the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on June 26, it cannot comment on the ruling until it obtains and reviews the certified copy.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is aware of reports circulating in the media regarding the judgment delivered on Friday, June 26, 2026, by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier order concerning the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

“However, as of this moment, the Commission has not yet received the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the court’s order,” the statement said.

INEC stated that its legal department would study the judgment upon receipt of the CTC before advising the commission on the next course of action.

“Once the Commission’s legal department receives and thoroughly studies the CTC of the judgment, INEC will take an informed, lawful decision in line with the court’s directives.

“Until then, we cannot comment on the specifics of the ruling, and the public is urged to await the Commission’s formal position on the matter,” Oketola added.

Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja had on Friday set aside the court’s December 10, 2025, judgment directing INEC to register the NDC as a political party.

The court held that the rights of the Peace Movement Party were affected by the earlier judgment because it was not joined in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo relied upon in securing the registration order.

Justice Dashen consequently ordered that all parties be restored to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that the substantive suit be heard afresh with all necessary parties joined.

The NDC has rejected the ruling and announced plans to appeal the decision. Its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, maintained that the party had not been deregistered and argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to revisit a matter on which it had already delivered a final judgment.

The ruling has also attracted reactions from opposition figures, including the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Dickson, and other stakeholders, who described the decision as a threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and vowed to challenge it through all available legal channels.

INEC, however, maintained that it would reserve its position on the judgment until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy.